Arlington, the seventh-largest city in Texas and the 50th largest city in the United States/. It is located in Tarrant County, between Dallas and Fort Worth. It was named for Arlington, Va., home of General Robert E. Lee.

In 1875, the Texas and Pacific Railroad chose a site for a new station, which opened as Arlington Station in 1876. The surrounding city of Arlington was incorporated in 1884. Arlington College opened in 1895; it would, in 1966, become the University of Texas at Arlington.

Arlington is one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, more than doubling in population between 1980 and 2000. Its General Motors plant employs 3,000, producing automobiles and parts. The city also produces medical, electronic, and oil-field equipment, plus rubber and plastic products.

Arlington is perhaps best known for its recreational and sports attractions. In 1961, the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park opened its doors. In 1972, the Washington Senators baseball team moved to their new home at Turnpike Stadium (now Ameriquest Field), becoming the Texas Rangers. A new $650 million football stadium for the Dallas Cowboys was approved by Arlington voters in 2004 and completed in 2009. The stadium seats 80,000, making it the third largest stadium in the National Football League. Located just five miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Arlington continues to serve as a transportational hub for the area.